Hijuelos, Oscar. “Beautiful María of my soul, or, the true story of María García y Cifuentes, the lady behind a famous song.” “Empress of the splendid season.” “The mambo kings play songs of love.” “Mr. Ives' Christmas.” “A simple Habana melody (from when the world was good).” “Thoughts without cigarettes: a memoir.”

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'''Hijuelos, Oscar.''' “Beautiful María of my soul, or, the true story of María García y Cifuentes, the lady behind a famous song.” “Empress of the splendid season.” “The mambo kings play songs of love.” “Mr. Ives' Christmas.” “A simple Habana melody (from when the world was good).” “Thoughts without cigarettes: a memoir.”

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López, Lorraine. “The realm of hungry spirits.”

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'''López, Lorraine.''' “The realm of hungry spirits.”

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Martinez, Nina Marie. “Caramba! : a tale told in turns of the card.”

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'''Martinez, Nina Marie.''' “Caramba! : a tale told in turns of the card.”

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Martinez, Victor. “Parrot in the oven : mi vida.”

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'''Martinez, Victor.''' “Parrot in the oven : mi vida.”

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Menéndez, Ana. “In Cuba I was a German shepherd.”

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'''Menéndez, Ana.''' “In Cuba I was a German shepherd.”

“The last war.”

“The last war.”

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Muñoz, Manuel. “The faith healer of Olive Avenue.” “What you see in the dark.”

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'''Muñoz, Manuel.''' “The faith healer of Olive Avenue.” “What you see in the dark.”

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Pineda, Cecile. “The love queen of the Amazon.”

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Rechy, John. “The coming of the night.” “The life and adventures of Lyle Clemens.” “The miraculous day of Amalia Gomez.”

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'''Pineda, Cecile.''' “The love queen of the Amazon.”

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Rodriguez, Abraham. “Spidertown.”

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'''Rechy, John.''' “The coming of the night.” “The life and adventures of Lyle Clemens.” “The miraculous day of Amalia Gomez.”

About the Author

Rudolfo Anaya began writing while working as a public school teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Following rejection by many publishers, Bless Me, Ultima was published in 1972 by El Grito, and he then went on to teach English Literature at the University of New Mexico. Following his retirement from the University, he has published the Sonny Baca mystery novels and a number of children's books.

The events in Bless Me, Ultima are drawn from his own experiences. He recorded further experiences in The Heart of Aztlan and Tortuga, which form a trilogy of fictionalized memoirs.

Other Works by Rudolfo Anaya

Anaya told reporters that this was the hardest book for him to write, recounting his experiences in a hospital following a serious swimming accident which also formed the basis for Florence's death in Bless Me, Ultima.

Anaya's Books for Children

Latino Writers of the United States - Bibliography

Adult Fiction
By Latin American Writers of the United States
A Selection

Acevedo, Chantel. “Love and ghost letters.”

Alvarez, Julia. “Before we were free.”
“Finding Miracles.”
“How the Garcia girls lost their accents.”
“How Tía Lola came to stay.”
“How Tía Lola ended up starting over.”
“How Tía Lola saved the summer.”
“In the name of Salomé.”
“In the time of the butterflies.” “Saving the world.”

Hijuelos, Oscar. “Beautiful María of my soul, or, the true story of María García y Cifuentes, the lady behind a famous song.” “Empress of the splendid season.” “The mambo kings play songs of love.” “Mr. Ives' Christmas.” “A simple Habana melody (from when the world was good).” “Thoughts without cigarettes: a memoir.”

López, Lorraine. “The realm of hungry spirits.”

Martinez, Nina Marie. “Caramba! : a tale told in turns of the card.”

Martinez, Victor. “Parrot in the oven : mi vida.”

Menéndez, Ana. “In Cuba I was a German shepherd.”
“The last war.”

Muñoz, Manuel. “The faith healer of Olive Avenue.” “What you see in the dark.”

Pineda, Cecile. “The love queen of the Amazon.”

Rechy, John. “The coming of the night.” “The life and adventures of Lyle Clemens.” “The miraculous day of Amalia Gomez.”

Related Reading

New Mexican Stories

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather - the establishment of the Catholic Church in New Mexico is portrayed in this classic novel depicting the relationships between the church and native beliefs, and between nature and culture

Though set in Maori New Zealand with a young girl as protagonist, the novel and the film based upon it echo the themes of coming of age, family traditions, and mystical understanding of the natural world in Bless Me, Ultima.